Skip to content
Boston Career Explorer

Life, Physical, and Social Science

Foresters

Manage public and private forested lands for economic, recreational, and conservation purposes. May inventory the type, amount, and location of standing timber, appraise the timber's worth, negotiate the purchase, and draw up contracts for procurement. May determine how to conserve wildlife habitats, creek beds, water quality, and soil stability, and how best to comply with environmental regulations. May devise plans for planting and growing new trees, monitor trees for healthy growth, and determine optimal harvesting schedules.

Also called: Area Forester, District Forester, Environmental Protection Forester, Fire Prevention Forester, Forest Silviculturist, Procurement Forester

Median pay in Greater Boston
$86,070
$41.38/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
90
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+7.7%
30 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$49,340$62,070$86,070$93,560$100,160

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Establish short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources.
  • Plan cutting programs and manage timber sales from harvested areas, assisting companies to achieve production goals.
  • Determine methods of cutting and removing timber with minimum waste and environmental damage.
  • Negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands.
  • Perform inspections of forests or forest nurseries.
  • Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Moderate exposure47 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 42
  • Language-model AIOE 41
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 59

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is moderate, and observed AI use is little or none so far. AI tools may help with long-term planning and with drafting contracts or sale plans. Walking forests to inspect them and negotiating with landowners and companies rely on people.

Likely to change

  • Drafting forest management plans
  • Preparing timber sale and contract paperwork

Still relies on people

  • Inspecting forests and nurseries in person
  • Negotiating agreements with landowners and companies

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers

    Outdoor field work and safety habits carry over. This path pays a Boston median of $111,490 with 13.3% projected growth.

    Pay difference
    +$25,420 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +13.3%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Structural Iron and Steel Workers

    Reading specifications and checking alignment on site carry over. It is an apprenticeship path with a Boston median pay of $120,840.

    Pay difference
    +$34,770 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +6.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

    Inspecting work and following technical specifications carry over. It needs a postsecondary nondegree award and pays a Boston median of $93,280.

    Pay difference
    +$7,210 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +6.5%
    To get started
    Postsecondary nondegree award

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

3 programs near Boston (plus 1 graduate)

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

Talk to a career coach